Attachments
Executive Summary
Value Chains Background
The World Food Programme (WFP) has been operating in Somalia with the primary objective of combating hunger, supporting millions of people through a wide range of programs aimed at addressing both immediate and long-term food security needs. It collaborates with governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and development agencies to strengthen the national food system and promote sustainable food security and resilience. A significant initiative is the Kobciye and the Joint Resilience Project (JRP) project, funded by the European Union (EU) and KFW (German development bank), respectively which is empowering smallholder farmers in Somalia through access to agricultural tools, training, and sustainable farming practices. These initiatives focuses also on enhancing productivity, improving food systems, and strengthening local capacity for agricultural resilience. In parallel, support from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) has contributed to building inclusive value chains, expanding access to climate-smart technologies, and improving livelihoods in food-insecure communities. To scale up such efforts and ensure long-term sustainability, WFP seeks to deepen its understanding of agricultural value chains, particularly for sorghum, maize, and cowpea.
At the beginning of 2025, the Axiom Monitoring and Evaluation (ME) team conducted a value chain analysis for maize, sorghum, and cowpea to understand the functioning and dynamics of these chains, identify key actors, and propose potential initiatives that WFP Somalia can support to improve food security and income generation. The study focuses on production, productivity, processing, marketing, consumption, value chain governance structures, social inclusion, and the participation of women and youth. By analyzing these key areas, the study aims to provide a holistic and nuanced understanding of the current dynamics within Somalia’s agricultural sector. The findings and recommendations from this study will serve as a foundation for future interventions that can significantly boost food and nutritional security, promote sustainable production systems, and enhance the resilience of Somali households and communities.
The study employed a variety of tools, including a review of secondary data sources such as agricultural reports, production and marketing data, and existing value chain assessments. This component of the analysis primarily focused on gathering quantitative data. Primary data was collected through detailed semi-structured interviews with stakeholders and key informants, focus group discussions (FGDs), and field visits in Hirshabelle, Puntland, and South West States. A total of 111 key informant interviews and 24 focus group discussions were conducted with farmers, traders, transporters, financial institution representatives, and processors in both rural and peri-urban areas. These were supplemented by field observations. The survey employed a qualitative approach aimed at capturing lessons learned and identifying specific characteristics of value chain actors, their interactions, and capacities. Understanding the profile and performance of different actors provides valuable insights, though the survey’s ability to quantify these aspects is limited. Data were synthesized to present a range (minimum to maximum) rather than averages, as the sample size was not designed to be statistically representative. Additionally, rapid market assessments were conducted with traders and processors to gather specific information on costs and margins at various levels of the value chain.
The report was subsequently validated by a technical team from WFP Somalia, with adjustments made to incorporate their feedback. This technical report presents the findings of the value chain analysis for maize, sorghum, and cowpea in the states of Hirshabelle, Puntland, and South West Somalia.